A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

another, probably
wondering whether to tell me or not. Eventually Clare spoke. “He’s at the Lore
court to see whether he can find a way to strip you of the prize. He’s trying
to save your life.”
    “Now we might need to save his life,” Blake
mumbled.
    Whatever that Lore court was, it didn’t
sound like a nice place. Aidan was a big guy, he could take care of himself, or
so I thought. The others didn’t seem convinced. My heartbeat accelerated until I
could barely breathe. It was my first panic attack in years.
    Clare held a glass of water to my lips,
smiling, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Drink this. Aidan will kill us if we
let you have a heart attack.”
    Listening to their conversation, I sipped
the cold liquid until bile rose in my throat.
    “I’m going after him,” Kieran said. “You
know Layla’s capable of anything. If she finds out
about Amber—”
    Clare interrupted him, shaking her head
vehemently. “She won’t because she’s not as strong as her mother.”
    Who was Layla ? I
peered from one to the other, waiting for someone to include me in the
conversation. When they kept ignoring me, I sank into the cushions, figuring I
might as well hide in the corner, playing furniture accessory.
    “You got proof?” Kieran asked. “Aidan
always says everyone underestimates her.”
    “I’m going,” Clare said. Kieran shook his
head. She continued, “No! It’s my fault he’s trapped in the Lore court. I
should’ve stayed back to watch Amber and the house instead of going hunting
during the race.”
    That fateful night again. I groaned,
wondering when I’d be hearing from Dallas. If he just called I could persuade
him to return the gemstones. Maybe that’d change things.
    “Turning up at Layla’s could make things worse,” Kieran said. “Maybe she’ll let him go. If he’s not
back by tomorrow we’ll take action.”
    “You’re willing to wait and risk your
brother’s life? Why?” Blake shouted, startling me.
    “ Layla’s powers
don’t include the ability to kill instantly,” Kieran said.
    “Maybe it wasn’t Layla .
The Shadows want Amber badly.” Clare went about closing the thick, blackout
drapes against the breaking dawn. “I’ll wait for Cass. Maybe she can help.”
    Kieran snorted but remained silent.
    “Is there anything I can do?” I asked. “I’ll
do whatever it takes to find Aidan.” I barely knew him, but somehow I felt a
connection. It was almost as though I could hear the confusion in his thoughts
and feel the pain that kept rippling through him like— chains cutting into his flesh ? I tensed,
gaze focused on the naked wall. There was something at the edge of my
awareness, but I couldn’t grasp it. With a sigh, I forced it to the back of my
mind. Paranoid. Aidan was fine and would be back soon.
    “Go to bed and get some rest. You’ve gone
through a lot in one day,” Kieran said.
    Blake nodded, grimly. “Kieran’s right.
Tomorrow, we’ll find a way to fix this giant mess you caused.”
    There was something else in the air, some
sort of hesitation and anticipation. And then it dawned on me. The vampires
wanted me out so they could discuss whatever they hid from me. I smiled and bid
them goodnight, then headed out the door. Holding my breath, I pressed my back
against the wall, eavesdropping.
    “ Layla will kill
him out of spite,” Kieran said.
    “She won’t,” Clare said.
    “She’s killed others for less.” Kieran
again. “You know she doesn’t like competition. Why would she want to keep him
alive now he’s found his mate? And don’t tell me I’m imagining things, because
I’ve seen the way he looks at her.”
    Clare made a noise that sounded like an
exaggerated sigh. “I’ll talk to Queen Deidre. Maybe she’ll know a way to get
him out of there.”
    “No freaking way,” Kieran said. “That
Shadow kid’s a vile liar and manipulator. She’ll definitely want something in
exchange.”
    “Cass will know what to do,” Clare said.
    “It’s waiting game now,” Blake said. “The
sun’s rising soon.”
    I peeled my back from the wall and tip-toed
up to my room, avoiding the creaking floorboards, then locked the door behind me.
Still dressed, I dropped on my bed and forced my mind into thinking mode while
watching the moon disappear outside.
    I flinched as a cry pierced my mind. Was I
going crazy, developing schizophrenia? Someone whispered my name. Turning, I
scanned the room. No one there. Kieran said Aidan had found his